Minister says ready to help Nanyang Wushu Federation of Sarawak
KUCHING: The Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports is ready to provide financial assistance to the Nanyang Wushu Federation of Sarawak even though the latter is not involved in competitive sports events.
Its minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said he was aware of other wushu associations which send exponents to represent Sarawak in national and international wushu competitions.
He nonetheless believed Nanyang Wushu Federation of Sarawak also deserved to be assisted because it also promotes wushu which inculcates selfdiscipline among the younger generation.
“Call it performance arts or self defence, wushu can indeed instil discipline among the youth. I know there is another association, which is more involved in competitive sporting events. But we cannot dispute that Nanyang Wushu Federation (of Sarawak) deserves to be respected and appreciated for what they have been doing so far,” he said when closing the 27th Nanyang Wushu Kung-Fu Festival at Crown Towers here yesterday.
As such, he called on Nanyang Wushu Federation of Sarawak officials to contact his ministry’s officers to discuss the needed assistance.
On a related matter, he said he was happy to note the participation of young people from different races and cultures in wushu despite this martial art being historically associated with the Chinese.
He also said he noted that Nanyang Wushu Federation of Sarawak has visited schools in Samarahan to promote wushu.
Meanwhile, Nanyang Wushu Federation of Sarawak chairman Datuk Seri Dr Song Swee Hee said the entity has been actively promoting not only wushu but also dragon dance, lion dance and drum beating to schools and higher institutions of learning since 1974.
He said the federation also organised festivals and championships which attracted a number of foreign participants, which has indirectly contributed to the tourism industry.